David Price & Twitter

[UNHWildCats]

A couple hours ago Tampa Bay Ray David Price tweeted this: "Had a chance to clinch a post season spot tonight with about 10,000 fans in the stands....embarrassing"

Less than 90 minutes later it appears he took some heat for the comment and he tweeted this: "If I offended anyone I apologize I did not think it was gonna turn into this..."

Of course he owed no one an apology for speaking the truth, if anything the people of Tampa Bay owe Price and his teammates an apology.

[AZGrizFan]

They need to move that team. They've got one of the best young teams in baseball and the entire state of Florida could give a rats ASS. That state has proven time and time again that they could care less about professional baseball. There's a reason Spring Training is moving more and more to Phoenix.

[Gil Dobie]

If Felix Hernandez, the Chuck Norris of AL pitchers, was pitching there would be 40,000 in the stands.

[ToTheLeft]

To shed some light on the ignorance (NGCB, non Gulf Coast Bias), a Tampa native and Rays fan here to tell you the truth.

The Rays have ridiculously good TV ratings. Like, really good. The stadium, however, is in a terrible location, and it's not really an appealing place to go see a baseball game. Why would a Tampa area resident want to drive all the way to South St. Pete (one of the worst parts of the Greater Tampa Area) just to watch a team they could watch from home?



The location is terrible, the stadium is nothing special, and the TV coverage is good so people just watch on TV.

I honestly think if they moved north or to the other side of the Bay they'd get a lot better attendance. Anywhere but South St. Pete....Orlando. Or Oregon. Or Oklahoma. Anywhere but South St. Pete.

Regardless, what's a pro athlete doing critizing the people of Tampa, who suffer from an 11+ % unemployment rate, about not shelling out money to go to a baseball game? At this time of the season, most of the 18-20 game "flex plans" have expired, so people are only coming out if they have the money right now to buy the tickets, and they just don't. Pro athletes really have no room to comment, we as fans can't just sell our 3rd car if we need more money to go to a baseball game. I've been looking for jobs in the Tampa area so I could go back home, and I'd be at every game I could if I had a job there. But the fact is there's a lot of people in Tampa who don't have jobs, or who have jobs but work during games, and it's just not as simple as "We could have clinched, why wasn't anyone here?" It's a terrible economy, a terrible location, so people go home to their families, eat dinner, and watch on TV.

I suspect the Rays won't be in Tampa very long unless they change locations.

[ToTheLeft]

If Felix Hernandez, the Chuck Norris of AL pitchers, was pitching there would be 40,000 in the stands.

That'd be tough in the Trop, since that's over capacity. I assume you're talking about your field, but it's a different situation in Seattle than it is in Tampa.

[89Hen]

Why would a Tampa area resident want to drive all the way to South St. Pete (one of the worst parts of the Greater Tampa Area) just to watch a team they could watch from home?

BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A FUCKING PENNANT RACE.

Lame excuses. Move the team.

[danefan]

Too bad the Yankees already owend the prime location for the stadium.

But hey, with the attendance they've had lately, why don't the Rays just play at Steinbrenner Field?

[ToTheLeft]

Too bad the Yankees already owend the prime location for the stadium.

But hey, with the attendance they've had lately, why don't the Rays just play at Steinbrenner Field?

It's so true.

[clenz]

The Twins had a similar issue with the Metrodome. It was never as bad as what the Rays have right now, but Target Field has put butts in the stands to watch the game in person like crazy.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Too bad the Yankees already owend the prime location for the stadium.

No doubt the perfect location - right across Dale Mabry from Raymond James Stadium.

[ToTheLeft]

Too bad the Yankees already owend the prime location for the stadium.

No doubt the perfect location - right across Dale Mabry from Raymond James Stadium.

Ray Jay is in a great location. Great place to see a football game. If only Ray Jay could double as a baseball stadium!

[danefan]

No doubt the perfect location - right across Dale Mabry from Raymond James Stadium.

Ray Jay is in a great location. Great place to see a football game. If only Ray Jay could double as a baseball stadium!

Isn't there room where the old Tampa Stadium was?

[AZGrizFan]

Why would a Tampa area resident want to drive all the way to South St. Pete (one of the worst parts of the Greater Tampa Area) just to watch a team they could watch from home?

BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A FUCKING PENNANT RACE.

Lame excuses. Move the team.

Arizona has an 11% unemployment rate, a last place team, and we put 30k in the seats for the season-ending game against the Dodgers.

Excuses are like assholes.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

No doubt the perfect location - right across Dale Mabry from Raymond James Stadium.

Ray Jay is in a great location. Great place to see a football game. If only Ray Jay could double as a baseball stadium!

Yep. I live in Pinellas County and have a shorter commute to get to Ray Jay than I do to get to the Trop.

Getting out of the Trop after a game can be a feakin' nightmare - even though you are only battling 12K worth of traffic to get to 275.

[danefan]

Jeez - you have to practically be a millionaire to get below the 2nd deck in Yankee stadium for 1pm weekday games. I'm sure the baseball fans in Tampa can muster up the $5 it costs for tickets.

Its really just a question of a terrible baseball atmosphere.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Jeez - you have to practically be a millionaire to get below the 2nd deck in Yankee stadium for 1pm weekday games. I'm sure the baseball fans in Tampa can muster up the $5 it costs for tickets.

Its really just a question of a terrible baseball atmosphere.

The fact that the Trop may possibly be the ugliest professional sports facility in the world certainly does not help attendance.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Ray Jay is in a great location. Great place to see a football game. If only Ray Jay could double as a baseball stadium!

Isn't there room where the old Tampa Stadium was?

The old stadium, I think, was located right next to where Ray Jay is now. There does look to be plenty of space there...

There are two major deterrents to the Rays moving to Tampa, though.

First and foremost, the taxpayers don't want to pay for a new stadium.

Secondly, the Rays are under contract with the city of St. Petersburg through 2027 and the city has said they would only consider letting the Rays out of their lease only if they were looking to build a new stadium and stay in St. Pete.

[AZGrizFan]

Jeez - you have to practically be a millionaire to get below the 2nd deck in Yankee stadium for 1pm weekday games. I'm sure the baseball fans in Tampa can muster up the $5 it costs for tickets.

Its really just a question of a terrible baseball atmosphere.

The fact that the Trop may possibly be the ugliest professional sports facility in the world certainly does not help attendance.

People who care about what the fucking stadium looks like are pretty shallow fans.

[Gil Dobie]

The Twins had a similar issue with the Metrodome. It was never as bad as what the Rays have right now, but Target Field has put butts in the stands to watch the game in person like crazy.

The Metrodome had pretty good crowds the last few years. The Metrodome was a good location, just not good enough for the downtown business. The fact that it's a novelty with outdoor baseball and the Twins having a great season has a lot to do with attendance. The Twins had a hard time getting fans to Bloomington and the Met prior to the Metrodome during several bad seasons. Oakland has a very easy stadium to get to, but terrible crowds, and they are 50/50 team with no real super stars.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

The fact that the Trop may possibly be the ugliest professional sports facility in the world certainly does not help attendance.

People who care about what the fucking stadium looks like are pretty shallow fans.

Well, there is little question that the newer stadiums filled with ammenities and attractions for the whole family bring more people out to the ballpark. Ugly stadium + bad area + lacking ammenities = lower attendance. The casual fan is less likely to pay for the family to come out and see a game.

[Gil Dobie]

To shed some light on the ignorance (NGCB, non Gulf Coast Bias), a Tampa native and Rays fan here to tell you the truth.

The Rays have ridiculously good TV ratings. Like, really good. The stadium, however, is in a terrible location, and it's not really an appealing place to go see a baseball game. Why would a Tampa area resident want to drive all the way to South St. Pete (one of the worst parts of the Greater Tampa Area) just to watch a team they could watch from home?

The location is terrible, the stadium is nothing special, and the TV coverage is good so people just watch on TV.

I honestly think if they moved north or to the other side of the Bay they'd get a lot better attendance. Anywhere but South St. Pete....Orlando. Or Oregon. Or Oklahoma. Anywhere but South St. Pete.

Regardless, what's a pro athlete doing critizing the people of Tampa, who suffer from an 11+ % unemployment rate, about not shelling out money to go to a baseball game? At this time of the season, most of the 18-20 game "flex plans" have expired, so people are only coming out if they have the money right now to buy the tickets, and they just don't. Pro athletes really have no room to comment, we as fans can't just sell our 3rd car if we need more money to go to a baseball game. I've been looking for jobs in the Tampa area so I could go back home, and I'd be at every game I could if I had a job there. But the fact is there's a lot of people in Tampa who don't have jobs, or who have jobs but work during games, and it's just not as simple as "We could have clinched, why wasn't anyone here?" It's a terrible economy, a terrible location, so people go home to their families, eat dinner, and watch on TV.

I suspect the Rays won't be in Tampa very long unless they change locations.

What is there for infrastructure, trains etc to and from the stadium. I know it's great taking the subway to Yankee games, or the train to Oakland or SF games.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

To shed some light on the ignorance (NGCB, non Gulf Coast Bias), a Tampa native and Rays fan here to tell you the truth.

The Rays have ridiculously good TV ratings. Like, really good. The stadium, however, is in a terrible location, and it's not really an appealing place to go see a baseball game. Why would a Tampa area resident want to drive all the way to South St. Pete (one of the worst parts of the Greater Tampa Area) just to watch a team they could watch from home?

The location is terrible, the stadium is nothing special, and the TV coverage is good so people just watch on TV.

I honestly think if they moved north or to the other side of the Bay they'd get a lot better attendance. Anywhere but South St. Pete....Orlando. Or Oregon. Or Oklahoma. Anywhere but South St. Pete.

Regardless, what's a pro athlete doing critizing the people of Tampa, who suffer from an 11+ % unemployment rate, about not shelling out money to go to a baseball game? At this time of the season, most of the 18-20 game "flex plans" have expired, so people are only coming out if they have the money right now to buy the tickets, and they just don't. Pro athletes really have no room to comment, we as fans can't just sell our 3rd car if we need more money to go to a baseball game. I've been looking for jobs in the Tampa area so I could go back home, and I'd be at every game I could if I had a job there. But the fact is there's a lot of people in Tampa who don't have jobs, or who have jobs but work during games, and it's just not as simple as "We could have clinched, why wasn't anyone here?" It's a terrible economy, a terrible location, so people go home to their families, eat dinner, and watch on TV.

I suspect the Rays won't be in Tampa very long unless they change locations.

What is there for infrastructure, trains etc to and from the stadium. I know it's great taking the subway to Yankee games, or the train to Oakland or SF games.

You can do the park and ride thing and take the bus. That's about it.

[Gil Dobie]

People who care about what the **** stadium looks like are pretty shallow fans.

Well, there is little question that the newer stadiums filled with ammenities and attractions for the whole family bring more people out to the ballpark. Ugly stadium + bad area + lacking ammenities = lower attendance. The casual fan is less likely to pay for the family to come out and see a game.

Boston seems to be doing fine with the ugly stadium scenaryio..............

[Gil Dobie]

You can do the park and ride thing and take the bus. That's about it.

I know having the light-rail has helped with Twins games. They added a new route from the north this year, and other routes are planned in the future. I've even looked at driving out of my way, parking free and taking the train into downtown.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Well, there is little question that the newer stadiums filled with ammenities and attractions for the whole family bring more people out to the ballpark. Ugly stadium + bad area + lacking ammenities = lower attendance. The casual fan is less likely to pay for the family to come out and see a game.

Boston seems to be doing fine with the ugly stadium scenaryio..............

Fenway ain't ugly, it's "historic" and "classic".